The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-12
AMONG THE cANNIBALS

author, who will be recalled as one of the gentlemen who accompanied Henry Irving to this country, contributes to the Illustrated London Ne,cS an ex- ceedingly interesting paper on Stan- ley's progress in the Congo, made up principally from letters and sketches received from MT. Herbert Ward, one of Stanley's lieutenants. MT. Ward writes hear some interesting stories of Stanley wheresoever am sojourn- ing in' this climate (the climate of which, by the-by is sonnet ines more than trving), which will interest you. He is rather famed for that curious, semi religious kind of humor that seems to belong rather to America than to England. During some build- ing operations in Vivi, Dr. Leslie, very good fellow, took it into his head to assist in making the doors of the house. "Well, you see, have turned carpenter" said the doctor to MT. Stanley, who was inspecting the work. "Ah, doctor," Stanley replied, "there was a more illustrious carpenter in Judea than Dr. Leslie." Mrs. Ingham at this station adopted a native boy whom they had christened "Johnny." Noticing the intelligent youth, Stan ley said to the lady: "I see no reason why such a clever little fellow should not one day become bishop" "I am afraid he has not too good 6 temper" said Mrs. Ingham, "he is sometimes very disagreeable." "A sure signl" responded Stanley, 'he is destined to become bishop" While Stanley was staying at the Pool, shortly before his last return to England, a deputation of black clerks (Houssas) came before him with complaint not altogether unjustifiable, but one very difficult just then of remedylng. Stanley, who was smoking cigar with friend in his tent, paid the gravest attention to the petitioners. When they had fin ished he complimented them upon their costume, saying it was far better than he could afford to trot about in. He also praised the neatness and healthfulness of their appearance. Then, gravely looking each in the face with his eagle eye, said, "Let us pray.n He knew his men. They were considerably awed, forgot what they had come for, and went back to their duties. "I couldn't do what they wished" said Stanley when they left, "but think impressed them."
 "Savages are but shades of our selves," says MT. Ward, recalling his "Ovid." "The other day, at Lukunga, I was sitting with some natives around a big camp fire. They were relating, in an excited manner, many instances of their prowess and bravery-how, shooting elephants, they had been knocked down by the brutes, but had escaped, owing to their courage and agility; what wonders they had done in the fields of sports and battle. Crack! bang went a log of wood on the fire, accompanied with shower of sparks. One and all they leaped up with cry and went off, helter-skei- ter, away in the grass. So much for bragp'
 With reference to the station of Lu- kunga and the 'sN'Ganga N'kissi" incl dent Ward writes at the end of June, 1885: "I am very isolated at this place. There is not a soul for many miles round who possesses even the rudi- ments of our language; consequently ones news is confined to the locality itself. The most interesting item is, think, an ordeal which took place the other day close by in this valley. It was a 'N'Ganga N'Kissi' or medi- cine mans palaver; and l send you a sketch of the interesting gentleman at work. I learn from MT. Harvey, of the Livingstone Inland Mission, that the general belief in the Congo is that nearly all sickness and death is the re- suit of witchcraft. The consequence is that when anyone is dangerously i'll the question arises, 'Who has be- witched him?' The guilty person is supposed to be secretly devouring the spirit of the unhappy sufferer. Should he dle. 'N'ganga' or medicine man is usually sent for to determine who it is that is possessed of 'N'Dokp (the deviD, or is guilty of the witchcraft. The 'N'Ganga' is invariably crafty individual of another tribe or from distant village. He brings with him an elaborate apparatus, consisting of leoparil's teeth and claws, snskes' and other skins, fetish idol, perhaps, and above all plentiful supply of pow dered chalk When all his little ar- engagements are made the 'N'Gangs' seats himself on rising ground and dis plays his paraphernalia, which he ma nipulates very cleverly. He endeavors to give his audience the impression that each article springs to his hand without his own volition. He has something of the art of the conjurer, with his aptitude at the eleight of hand. Even the mat upon which he sits seems now and then to be alive He turns and looks at it occasionally